The Colorado Stage International Cycle Classic concept was created in 2006 by the Vail Valley Foundation (VVF), in conjunction with USA Cycling. From the VVF's perspective, returning a major international cycling event to the Vail Valley had long been discussed as we looked to round out our athletic offering with a summer event to complement our trio of winter ski and snowboard efforts (including the Birds of Prey Dowhnill Race Week, Honda Session and American Ski Classic).
We brought extensive experience in the sport of mountain biking to the table, having hosted a total of five World Cup events in addition to the 1994 and 2001 UCI World Mountain Bike Championships. In addition, the Vail Valley was very familiar with international road biking, having played host to annual stage stops of the Coors Classic race in the 1980’s.
During the process leading up to making a final decision, we also forged a partnership with Medalist Sports, the Atlanta-based events group that produces other major cycling events such as the Tour of California, Tour de Georgia, Tour of Missouri and U.S. Pro Championships.
In the summer of 2007, the Foundation, along with Medalist Sports and USA Cycling, made the decision to submit the August 22-24 dates to the UCI for inclusion on the 2008 race calendar. The submission was approved at the 2007 UCI Road World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.
-- Ceil Folz, President of the Vail Valley Foundation
The inaugural Colorado Stage will include the following three stages:
Stage 1:
A 135-mile road race from Breckenridge to Beaver Creek
Stage 2:
A 72-mile circuit race in and around Vail Village.
Stage 3:
The final 10-mile individual time trial from Vail Village to the East Vail cul-de-sac on the traditional Coors Classic course.
The 2008 Colorado Stage International Cycle Classic dates fall just after the Beijing Olympic Summer Games and just prior to the U.S. Pro Championships on August 22-24, 2008.
